France Faces World Cup Humiliation

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Thomas Rooney

French faithful cannot be happy with the performance of their team so far in the 2010 World Cup.

France is staring World Cup elimination in the face and it feels like they are “a small football nation”, according to captain Patrice Evra.

Two years ago Les Blues crashed out of Euro 2008 with just one point from their three group games and that feat will be repeated unless they are able to get a result against South Africa next week.

However, even a victory may not be enough to secure a second round spot for France. The other remaining Group A game sees Mexico play Paraguay and a draw will see both sides through to the knockout stages. The World Cup odds suggest Les Blues are going home.

It’s a far cry from the lofty expectations held by France fans before the tournament kicked off. Most expected the side to top the group comfortably, but a turgid 0-0 with Paraguay and a desperate 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mexico means they are highly likely to fall at the first hurdle.

Evra hopes the team will be able to salvage some pride when they face the hosts on Tuesday, but he seems exceedingly pessimistic about their chances of progressing.

“I am deeply upset, I’m disgusted. We owe it to ourselves to beat South Africa.

“But as for miracles, I don’t believe in them too much.”

Despite Evra’s comments it’s still far from certain that his side will be able to get a result against South Africa.

France have hardly threatened in their opening two games, while Bafana Bafana have managed to do something Les Blues haven’t – find the net. The fixed odds betting may make France favourites for the game, but they won’t win if they can’t score.

French fans already knew this would be Raymond Domenech’s last tournament in charge and given the way things have gone they will feel his departure can’t come soon enough.

As it is, it looks like the supporters will be left wondering why a man who failed to guide his team out of the group stage of two major tournaments was allowed to become France’s longest serving national team manager.